Friday February 7, 2020  
RED FRIDAY ~ Remember Everyone Deployed

   Have you ever though about the effects the weather has on your health? Living with Multiple Sclerosis, the weather conditions can have a grave effect on us. Some are cold sensitive some are heat sensitive and the lucky ones are not effected by either. Heat-Intolerance can affect the brain and the decision-making process. The Winter weather can aggravate fatigue and spasticity but it is mostly problematic. For myself, living in the Southern region in North Alabama, the summertime can be very difficult due to the hot temperatures but mostly because of the extreme humidity. I do love the summer and outdoor activities but on bad days it literally shuts my body down. What do I mean by "shuts me down"? Have you ever experienced something shorting out, like electrical things. Sometimes sparks fly, sometimes the gadget just doesn't charge properly or just doesn't work like it should. Well... It's the same for me in the heat. My body just doesn't work correctly. My legs feel like limp noodles and my brain feels like jello. I've learned to be protective and just stay indoors where is cooler. 
   Spasticity is a word that is often used in the world of MS. What does it mean? Spasticity is a condition in which certain muscles are continuously contracted. This contraction causes stiffness or tightness of the muscles and can interfere with normal movement, speech and gait. Spasticity is usually caused by damage to the portion of the brain or spinal cord that controls voluntary movement. 
   For me personally, spasticity is a medium symptom that affected me more in the heat, meanwhile, the fatigue is a major problem that affects me daily and brain fog affects me quite often. 
   I've researched places to live and I've decided that Beaufort, NC is the best place for me due to the milder climate year-around. Link to a little piece of coastal heaven... https://www.southernliving.com/souths-best/beaufort-nc Some other things to consider when choosing the location for your forever home is; cost of living, treatment facilities, family assistance and housing/living assistance. This, I will be researching and will touch on soon.